In Hosea 10 we see where Israel is described as extremely prosperous, which led to their own demise. Instead of giving glory to God they began to build more idols, pagan altars, and false worship centers. This is a prime example showing that just because a nation is prosperous doesn’t mean they are spiritually faithful. Israel’s heart had become divided. They wanted God and idols, religion and sin, covenant and self-interest. They wanted the blessings of God without the relationship. The Israelites had let prosperity cripple them into leaning on their own understanding. They found their comfort in kings, military alliances, and idol worship, instead of trusting God. Then God goes on to comparing Israel’s corruption to the days of Gibeah. To briefly describe what happened in the days of Gibeah we have to go back to chapters 19-21 in Judges. Essentially they are referring to when a Levite (a man from the priestly tribe) was traveling with his concubine and stopped for the night in the town of Gibeah, in the tribe of Benjamin. An old man took them into his house to protect them and show hospitality. That night, violent men from the city surrounded the house and demanded that the Levite be brought out so they could sexually assault him. Instead, the Levite’s concubine was forced outside to them. She was abused throughout the night and died afterward. This is what the Israelites were being compared to. This is how corrupt they had become. Now before we get on our high horse, we could definitely compare ourselves to the days of Gibeah today. In America we are the leading nation in child sex trafficking. We also see all the time how someone is getting arrested for raping and killing someone. It happens so much that we turn a blind eye and have become numb to it. As a nation, if you ask me, we are in the same position as Israel at this time. We are the most prosperous nation in the world, but instead of giving glory to God we put all of our faith in government, military power, and the entertainment industry. We have fallen into the category where we need to be constantly repenting as a nation. Time and time again, God has shown throughout the Bible, that he will relent judgment on a truly repentful heart of a nation. He has also shown that there is a line that he draws in the sand and once it is crossed judgment is inevitable. Love y’all! Have a great day!
Hosea 10:1-15
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“Israel is a lush vine; it yields fruit for itself. The more his fruit increased, the more he increased the altars. The better his land produced, the better they made the sacred pillars. Their hearts are devious; , now they must bear their guilt. The Lord will break down their altars and demolish their sacred pillars. In fact, they are now saying, “We have no king! For we do not fear the Lord. What can a king do for us? ” They speak mere words, taking false oaths while making covenants. So lawsuits break out like poisonous weeds in the furrows of a field. The residents of Samaria will have anxiety over the calf of Beth-aven. Indeed, its idolatrous priests rejoiced over it; the people will mourn over it, over its glory. It will certainly go into exile. The calf itself will be taken to Assyria as an offering to the great king. , Ephraim will experience shame; Israel will be ashamed of its counsel. Samaria’s king will disappear, like foam on the surface of the water. The high places of Aven, the sin of Israel, will be destroyed; thorns and thistles will grow over their altars. They will say to the mountains, “Cover us! ” and to the hills, “Fall on us! ” Israel, you have sinned since the days of Gibeah; they have taken their stand there. Will not war against the unjust overtake them in Gibeah? I will discipline them at my discretion; nations will be gathered against them to put them in bondage for their double iniquity. Ephraim is a well-trained calf that loves to thresh, but I will place a yoke on her fine neck. I will harness Ephraim; Judah will plow; Jacob will do the final plowing. Sow righteousness for yourselves and reap faithful love; break up your unplowed ground. It is time to seek the Lord until he comes and sends righteousness on you like the rain. You have plowed wickedness and reaped injustice; you have eaten the fruit of lies. Because you have trusted in your own way and in your large number of soldiers, the roar of battle will rise against your people, and all your fortifications will be demolished in a day of war, like Shalman’s destruction of Beth-arbel. Mothers will be dashed to pieces along with their children. So it will be done to you, Bethel, because of your extreme evil. At dawn the king of Israel will be totally destroyed.”
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